Domestic Violence

October set aside to bring awareness to serious problem

In 1981 the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence sponsored the first Day of Unity to help those who suffer at the hands of spouses or intimate partners.

But one day wasn’t enough and the event quickly became a weeklong observance, marked in many locations across the country.

By 1987, the movement had gone nationwide and for the first time October was designated as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Congress recognized the month in 1989 and since then every October has been proclaimed as a time to educate the public about domestic violence, raise awareness of help available to victims, and honor the strength and courage of those who break the cycle and build a new life for themselves.

Domestic violence is not just a problem of the poor or uneducated as some might think. It affects those in every walk of life. Anywhere from one million to as many as six million people are victims of such abuse every year. The cost in dollars from lost work and productivity, medical care and other expenses tops $8 billion per year according to a 2004 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The cost for police investigations, the legal system and incarceration is about $55 billion a year according to a study released this past April by Case Western Reserve University.

The costs in human suffering cannot be measured in mere dollars. The CDC estimates about one in four women and one in seven men have experienced severe physical violence from their partners. The problem is that in many cases domestic abuse goes unreported. Sometimes it’s because of fear, sometimes because of shame. That must change. Domestic violence doesn’t just mean bruises, broken bones and shattered minds. Depending on the year, hundreds or even thousands of victims die in domestic violence incidents.

If you have been the victim of domestic violence, or know someone who has, it’s important to contact local authorities. There is also help available from the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE, or by visiting www. thehotline.org.

No one should have to live with domestic violence. And not one more victim should have to die.